Sunderland Football Club

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Paolo Di Canio

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48353

Black Cats snare Halford

11 Jun 2007 - 15:22:09

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Sunderland have completed their first signing of the summer after landing Reading youngster Greg Halford in a £3million deal.

Halford, 22, only signed for the Royals in January but was given permission to speak to Sunderland manager Roy Keane.

Reading paid Colchester United a club record £2million to land the versatile defender, who can also play in midfield and up front.

Halford had been linked with a host of other top-flight clubs before moving to the Madejski Stadium during the last transfer window.

However, due to Reading's excellent form he struggled to break into the first-team picture and made just three appearances.

Royals boss Steve Coppell had claimed the former England Under-20 international was part of his long-term plans.

He said back in March: "I'm sure Greg is desperate to make his debut, but when he signed I said he wasn't a 14-game signing, he was a three or four-year prospect.

"He was bought to play, not sit on the sidelines but sometimes you have got to be patient."

But after putting pen to paper on a four-year contract, Halford revealed he jumped at the chance to join the Black Cats ahead of their return to the Premier League.

"It's great to be here. The set-up at Sunderland is phenomenal and I can't wait to get going," he told the club's official website.

"I've had a taste of the Premiership with Reading and I want more."